The Merrimack River Eagle Festival 2019
Presented by Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Come to Newburyport and Amesbury on Saturday, February 9, for a full day of fun indoor and outdoor activities celebrating the return of our Bald Eagles! Learn more about these magnificent birds—as well as other amazing raptors such as Snowy Owls—and why our local habitat is so important to them.
Schedule
Visit Eagle Hot Spots
9:00 am–4:00 pm
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Drive yourself! Naturalist guides will be onsite all day along the Merrimack River. Parking available. Maps will be available on February 9. All ages welcome. FREE.
Go On An Eagle Tour
9:00 am–2:30 pm
Let us drive you! Tours start every half hour and take 90 minutes to complete. Departs from Newburyport Chamber of Commerce. Advance registration required. Sign up online >
Adults and children ages 6-17 | $10 per adult, $5 per child (ages 6-17)
Eagle Festival Photo Tour with Hunt's
2:00 pm–4:00 pm
Register in advance for this exciting opportunity for in-the-field wildlife photo tips from Hunt’s Photo & Video. Departs from Newburyport Chamber of Commerce.
Adults only | $50 per person
See A Raptor Show
10:00–11:00 am & 12:45–1:45 pm
Mary-Beth Kaeser of Horizon Wings presents two educational programs at Newburyport City Hall featuring raptors great and small. First come, first served. Recommended for adults and children age 6 and over. FREE.
Have Fun With Your Family
10:00 am–3:00 pm
At the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters: Family activities, arts and crafts, and more! Special Feature: Live owls from Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm (11:00 am–3:00 pm). FREE.
At Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center: Family activities, arts and crafts, and more! Special Feature: Live hawks from Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm (11:00 am–3:00 pm). FREE.
Find Eagle Festival Information
Eagle Festival information will be available from 8:30 am–4:00 pm at all festival headquarter sites:
- Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center | 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport | 978-462-9998
- Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters | 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport | 978-465-5753
- The Newburyport Chamber of Commerce | 38R Merrimac Street, Newburyport
- Newburyport City Hall | 60 Pleasant Street, Newburyport
- Lowell’s Boat Shop | 459 Main Street, Amesbury
Additional Winter Bird Programs
Call Joppa Flats at 978-462-9998 for information.
Wednesday Morning Birding
Wednesdays from 9:30 am-12:30 pm | Adults | Preregistration not required.
Saturday Morning Birding
Saturdays from 9:00-11:30 am | Adults and children (ages 8 & up) | Preregistration not required.
Focus on Merrimack River Birds
Sunday, January 20, 9:00 am-12:00 pm | Adults
Bald Eagles of the Merrimack River
Sunday, February 17, 9:00 am-12:00 pm | Adults
Focus on Seabirds
Sunday, February 24, 9:00 am-12:30 pm | Adults
Birding the New Hampshire Coast
Sunday, March 3, 9:00 am-4:00 pm | Adults
Owls of the Salt Marshes & Forests
Saturday, March 9, 3:30-10:00 pm | Adults
The Wonder and the Wow: Falconry & Raptor Road Trip
Saturday, March 16, 9:30 am-2:30 pm | Adults
Merrimack River Eagle Festival Founding Sponsor
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| Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank |
Additional Support by |
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Merrimack River Eagle Festival
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Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center, located at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is a natural history education center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and Monday holidays, 8:30 am–4:00 pm. Call 978-462-9998 for additional information, or visit the website at www.massaudubon.org/joppaflats | |
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The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is operated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge encompasses over two-thirds of Plum Island and consists of 4,662 acres of critical coastal habitats, including dunes, maritime forest, and salt marsh. The Refuge Visitor Center and Headquarters, located at 6 Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 pm and on the weekends from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Call 978-465-5753 for more information, or visit the refuge website at www.fws.gov/refuge/parker_river/. |